Velva Rae Baker of Whitesville, KY was called home on October 26th, 2023 at age 99, only three months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born in Hancock County to the late Temetrice Evan McDaniel and Buelah Mae Brandle McDaniel on January 18, 1924. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Harold Baker (1993). Her youngest daughter, Donna Draper Allen (2021). Her sisters and brothers: Clara, Nellie, Louise, Maitland, Junior, Therman, Richard, Ira, and Joe.
For the last 70 years, she has lived at the corner of Herbert and Old Leitchfield Rd and just steps away from the Old Walnut Grove School site which she attended when she was a child. She attended Old Panther Creek Baptist Church where she was the oldest member. She was always faithful to her church, where she has served as a children’s Sunday school teacher and also the treasurer for many years. She was an excellent servant of the Lord and a woman of great faith who looked forward to meeting her Savior face to face. She always had her Bible open on the kitchen table and dedicated herself to study and prayer, as her children and grandchildren witnessed throughout her life. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her grandchildren affectionately called her “Baker” and she always made it a point to spoil them. She was an excellent cook, homemaker and took great pride in keeping her yard beautiful. She held public jobs starting as a young woman. She worked at Ken-Rad Tube Company; she was an “Avon lady”; bookkeeper for her husband’s welding shop, B&M Welding at Whitesville, and at Red Spot Paint until retirement. Everyone she met throughout her life, loved her and said she was the nicest person. She was A LIFE WELL LIVED!!!! Her family believes when she entered the gates of Heaven she heard Well done good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:23 )
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Deloris Ann Kindred and her husband Terry Kindred; grandchildren, Jeff (Tonya) Draper, Pam (Ed) Hemmersbach, Robin (Deanna) Kindred, Laura Jewell, Heather (Danny) Cheek; 13 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 2, 2023 Old Panther Creek Baptist Church, 3876 Herbert Road Whitesville, KY 42378 with Jeff Draper officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 10:00am until 12:00pm at Old Panther Creek Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Cecil Funeral Home in Whitesville is in charge of arrangements.
Donations can be made to Old Panther Creek Church Cemetery Fund in care of Deloris Kindred 533 Panther Creek Church Road Philpot, KY 42366.